The Future of Music Streaming in Smart Homes: Matter Speakers on the Horizon!

In an exciting development for smart home enthusiasts, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has announced that its innovative Matter standard, which allows for seamless communication between various smart devices, is set to incorporate streaming speakers. Chris LaPré, CSA's Chief Technology Officer, has confirmed to The Verge that they are working on a "new streaming speaker device type and related controls," which will dramatically enhance how we interact with our connected homes.

Imagine your Matter-enabled speakers notifying you when your washing machine is done, alerting you when someone rings your doorbell, or even sending out an alarm when your smoke detector goes off. Currently, speakers already part of the Matter ecosystem mainly support TVs and video devices, focusing on limited functions such as on/off and volume control. This new development promises to bring a wealth of functionalities tailored specifically for streaming music and home notifications from companies like Sonos, Bose, and Marshall.

The CSA's ambition is to create an "ambient information stream" through speakers, allowing them to communicate vital updates about other connected devices in your home. "We want smart homes to have this ambient information stream, and speakers are a big enabler of that," LaPré stated.

Despite the excitement, it appears we may have to wait a bit longer before realizing these benefits. LaPré noted that while discussions are underway, it’s "too early to put a timeline" on the rollout of these new capabilities. Moreover, for now, popular smart speakers such as Apple's HomePods and Amazon's Echo devices serve as Matter controllers, letting them manage Matter devices within their ecosystems. However, they currently cannot be controlled by other Matter devices, restricting their versatility across platforms.

While Matter's specifications have allowed for basic media device types, the push towards creating dedicated streaming speakers aims to enhance user interaction with music and audio in the smart home. This includes the potential for controlling audio sources, adjusting volumes, and executing transport controls like play, pause, and skip through any Matter-supported app—whether it be Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, or Home Assistant.

One of the biggest hurdles is integrating these speakers into various scenes within your smart home. Picture entering your home and having the perfect playlist start playing automatically or your speakers notifying you when it's time to wind down for the night. As Schillmoeller from Legato puts it, “You should be able to use your smart home to drive speaker behavior.”

An exciting innovation from Legato, a startup founded by industry experts who have previously worked at major companies like Sonos and Apple, aims to create a software platform called LegatoXP that supports these new functionalities. LegatoXP is designed to make it easier for different brands to build speakers that can not only alert you to notifications from your smart home but also stream your favorite music without the constraints of proprietary hardware.

With LegatoXP running on a lightweight, real-time operating system, manufacturers are poised to produce more affordable smart speakers that can compete with giants like Amazon and Google. Schillmoeller suggests that these next-generation devices could retail for as low as $25, democratizing access to smart home audio and breaking down the current oligopoly held by a handful of tech companies.

In summary, while the integration of Matter speakers is on the horizon, the journey has just begun. The CSA and its partners are eager to streamline the way we experience music and notifications throughout our smart homes, ensuring that the future of smart speakers is not only accessible but intuitive and engaging. Stay tuned, as this could revolutionize your living space, bringing a whole new level of convenience right to your fingertips!